608 GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES IN MALAYSIA AND ASIA, 



the same as Banka ; but I am under the impression that there is 

 a recent development of volcanic rocks which is not seen in other 

 parts of the archipelago. It should be here mentioned that the 

 so-called laterite formation gives rise to a fiery red soil, which is 

 especially characteristic of these lands. The rocks are red, and so 

 are all the roads of most parts of the Straits Settlements any- 

 where near the coast. This imparts great variety and brilliancy 

 to the scenery. 



STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 



From Bintang, the name of which in Malay signifies a star, I 

 crossed to the Straits Settlements, remaining at Singapore for some 

 time. During this period I went completely round the Island, and 

 in this and several other journeys made a more or less complete 

 examination of its geology and that of the neighbouring state 

 of Johore. The voyage round Singapore is one that can be 

 easily made by steam in a few hours. It is an exceedingly 

 picturesque journey through a narrow strait, bordered by low 

 lands and rocky islands, varied in the most charming manner by 

 the brilliant colours of the rocks already referred to. The vegeta- 

 tion even down to the water's edge is unusually luxuriant, either 

 tropical jungle or plantations of coffee, cotton, tea, garabia and 

 pepper, bordered by cocoa-nut and Betel-palms. 



JVIalacca. — In my first journey I left Singapore at the end of 

 October 1883, and visited the ancient city of Malacca, a city which, 

 even more than the well-known kingdom of Java, is connected 

 with all the historical associations of the Indian Archipelago. The 

 Portuguese, the Dutch and the English have all left amid the 

 ruins of this curious eastern capital, some relics and memorials of 

 their former history. Of the many churches, public buildings, 

 monasteries and the lai-ge college, only one solitary ruin remains 

 now, though heaps of stones and inscribed tombs, tell their own 

 tales in quaint old Latin epitaphs, some nearly 300 years old. 

 This is the scene of some of the most heroic labours of St. Francis 



